The 2nd season of Ikhlas Basketball League (IBL) kicked off last Friday with an opening ceremony at CCNM court on Exit 8 Dammam road outside of Riyadh.

Witnessed by hundreds of spectators mainly Filipinos from different parts of Riyadh, the opening ceremony was highlighted by the declaration of the 2nd season open, Islamic lecture, raffle draw, parade of the participating teams, video recap presentation taken from IBL-1 games, and basketball clinic by Sabra President Raul Aragon. Then the first two games of the new season followed with defending champion Cabaronians beating Sadaqat 5 74-70 and Kalagan-Kagan winning against last year’s third placer Herfy 68-56.

Officials and representatives from different Islamic Centers attended the event, namely, from Arrawdhah led by Sheikh Khalid Al Otaibi, assistant director of Jaliyat Department, Sheikh Abu Abdullah and Islamic propagators Ismael Cacharro, Saddam Said and Ali Javier. Abdul Fattah Jacaria, an Islamic propagator from Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Old Industrial area, was also present. Others that attended the tournament opening day were Care Center for New Muslims (CCNM) Manager Sheikh Salem Al Habthur, Abu Anas Al Qileya, Abdulmalik Marasigan, Islamic propagator from CCNM and Mahrad Suliman from Al Quwayiyah Islamic Center.

The IBL season 2 was declared open by IBL Chairman Ahmad Campo followed by the first game featuring the defending champion Cabaronians, formerly known as Visacano, against the new comers Sadaqat5.

The game was intense and the defending champion led all the way closing the 3rd period ahead by 17 points.

But The 4th quarter belonged to Sadaqat5 which showed its never-sa- die spirit to cut the lead down to 4 points with 42 seconds left in in the game highlighted by a rare 4 point play by Sadaqat5 ace player Ferrera.

However, their run came up short as the Cabaronians stood their ground and closed the game with a four-point advantage.

The second game was close but the new IBL entrant Kalagan-Kagan showed its quickness and did not allow the veteran team to steal the show.

IBL is an amateur basketball league organized and managed by Ikhlas (Islamic Knowledge for Humanity & Livelihood Association), a group of Muslim Filipinos based in Riyadh, and in coordination with Rawdah Islamic Center and Care Center for New Muslims.

This 6-feet and below category league with 24 teams in the fold aims to provide entertainment for OFWs and at the same time a source of Islamic knowledge and awareness.

SABRA group of referees handles the tournament officiating.

Games are played Fridays from 6 to 10 in the morning and from 5 in the afternoon. For update of IBL games, photos, video recaps and schedules, please visit their Facebook official page, “IBL-1 2014”.